Messi's Argentina farewell: A night of fireworks, tears and one final goal

Lionel Messi's final appearance for Argentina was never going to be just another football match. The Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires was transformed into a celebration of the country's greatest modern football icon as Argentina took on Benin, with supporters filling the stadium in light blue and white to watch Messi represent the national team for one final time.Even Angel Di Maria, who announced his retirement from international football after the previous edition of the Copa America, was among the big-name stars present alongside the Argentina side, albeit not in a playing capacity. There were famous faces in the stands too, with legendary French striker David Trezeguet spotted with his daughter, watching Messi go through his warm-up routine ahead of the game.A NIGHT TO REMEMBERThe tribute began before the football did. A huge No. 10 jersey carrying the word "Gracias" was displayed inside the Monumental, a simple message that captured the mood of a stadium that had come together to say goodbye. The stands were flooded with Argentina's colours, with supporters wearing the national team shirt and waiting to see the man who has given them some of the most memorable moments in their football history.Then Messi walked onto the pitch. Fireworks erupted around the Monumental as Messi's sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, accompanied him while the national anthems were played. As Argentina's anthem reached its crescendo, Messi was visibly moved to tears. Lionel Scaloni, too, struggled to hide his emotions, while Nicolas Otamendi stood alongside his captain with the weight of the occasion evident. Before the coin toss, the Benin captain presented Messi with a special memento, appearing to be an Amazonian-style sculpture, along with a letter. Then, finally, came the football.MESSI GETS GOINGMessi's first touch of the ball was met with a short but loud burst of applause. The No. 10 received possession and immediately returned it to the defender, helping Argentina recycle the ball as the hosts looked to establish control. There was no frantic running from Messi. Instead, he moved around the pitch in the familiar manner that has become one of the defining sights of his career, walking into spaces, searching for passing lanes and waiting for the opportunity to make something happen. It did not take long. In the seventh minute, Messi played a quick one-two outside the box before turning towards goal and shooting from just outside the area. The Benin goalkeeper was equal to it, keeping out Messi's first attempt on target of the night.Three minutes later, the Monumental erupted again. At the 10-minute mark, players and supporters joined in a special tribute to Messi's achievements. Another burst of fireworks lit up the stadium as the crowd rose to applaud the Argentina captain.But the supporters had another moment they wanted. They wanted a goal. By the 23rd minute, there was a sense of anticipation every time Messi moved towards the penalty area. He came charging into the mix and appeared to have an opportunity to finish, but could not quite get the final touch right.Argentina continued to dictate possession, but Benin were able to keep the hosts from turning their control into a breakthrough. There was little to separate the two teams by half-time. The first half ended without a goal, and the occasion briefly shifted away from the pitch, with Los Fundamentalistas performing for the crowd.ARGENTINA TAKE CONTROLArgentina wasted little time after the restart. Messi was once again the architect, sending a free-kick into the danger area for Nicolas Otamendi to finish in style. It was a particularly significant moment for Otamendi, who was also playing his final match for Argentina. His night ended shortly afterwards when he was substituted, allowing him to leave the pitch having made his final contribution to the national team.Messi then had a chance to get his own name on the scoresheet from a free-kick. The opportunity was there, the crowd was ready, but the attempt did not find the target. Argentina would not have to wait much longer for a second goal, though.This time, it was Nico Paz who provided the moment. Paz collected the ball on the right, cut inside and curled his effort into the net, producing a finish that carried an unmistakable echo of the sort of goal Messi has scored countless times during his career.The symbolism was hard to ignore. Paz is among the young players expected to carry Argentina forward, and he is regarded as one of the players who could eventually take over the No. 10 shirt and become one of the main figures for the Albiceleste. But this was still Messi's night.THE MOMENT ARRIVESThe biggest moment arrived in the 69th minute. Augustin Ndiaye was fouled inside the box and Argentina were awarded a penalty. Messi's teammates immediately surrounded him, almost as though they were protecting the penalty taker, as they might in a fiercely contested competitive fixture. There was no mystery about who would take it.Messi placed the ball down. The Monumental waited, and then he delivered. The penalty was smashed into the top-right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance. Argentina's players immediately surrounded their captain, jumping around him as they celebrated.Messi had his farewell goal. The image of his teammates gathering around him was perhaps the most fitting celebration for the occasion. This was no longer simply about a scoreline. It was a group of players celebrating the final moments of a career that has shaped Argentine football for almost two decades.But even with the farewell in full swing, Messi's competitive instincts remained. He soon charged towards the right corner to prevent the ball from going out of play, showing that familiar intensity that had terrorised defenders throughout his career.ONE LAST CHANCEMessi had a golden opportunity to add a second. Nico Gonzalez found him with a perfectly weighted low cross, presenting the Argentina captain with a chance to finish from close range. But the finish was not there.Messi scuffed the effort with his weaker foot, missing a chance that would have been expected to end in the back of the net even by his extraordinary standards. With around 10 minutes plus stoppage time remaining, the reality of the occasion began to sink in. The end was approaching.Yet Messi continued to play as though there were another match waiting around the corner. He kept finding teammates with passes, creating openings and delivering balls into dangerous areas, even as Argentina's attackers struggled to convert them. There was another opportunity when one of Messi's strikes deflected off the goalkeeper and hit the post.The clock, however, was now working against him. The final minutes arrived, and the Monumental began singing. Argentina supporters knew what was coming and raised their voices as Messi's final moments in the national shirt approached.Then came one final chance. Just before the final whistle, Argentina won a free-kick around 21 metres from goal. Phones appeared across the stadium and the expectation was obvious. For a player who has produced so many magical moments from set pieces, this felt like the perfect opportunity for one final signature moment.But it was not meant to be. Messi's effort flew over and wide.There would be no picture-perfect ending, no final free-kick curling into the corner and no last-second masterpiece. Perhaps that was the most human way for the night to finish.Messi had already given Argentina everything. On a night built around saying goodbye, he had walked onto the Monumental pitch with his sons, fought back tears during the anthem, created a goal, scored one himself and continued searching for another until the final moments.The final whistle eventually arrived. The fireworks, the giant No. 10, the tears, the goal and the songs had all formed part of one final night.For the last time, Lionel Messi had represented Argentina at the Monumental. And this time, the message from the stands was not one of expectation.It was simply: Gracias, Leo.- Ends